How to Floc a swimming pool

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Zodiac Granular FlocculantA lot of rain can cause overflow or garden run off to enter your swimming pool dumping rocks, mud, plant life and all kinds of debris into your swimming pool. Depending on the amount it is wise to floc the pool dropping all debris buoyant in the water to the bottom of the pool allowing a quick vacuum to waste clearing the water in a 24 - 48 hours rather than weeks of normal filtration.

There are a couple of things to consider when floccing a swimming pool first we look over the equipment, most media filters like sand or glass filters have a selector valve at the top called a Multi-Port Valve or MPV which will allow you to select a “waste” function taking all debris out to the same line as when you backwash.

Cartridge filters are a little bit different, some systems have a three way valve after the first some have one before which is preferable. If the three way valve is after the cartridge the element will have to be removed when vacuuming to waste.

Floccing a swimming pool with a Sand or Glass Filter & Cartridge Filter

  1. Increase the water level to the top of the pool or as high as possible as most pool pumps average around 300 to 400 liters per minute. (if the water level falls to low and the skimmer starts to suck air stop vacuuming and top the level backup.)
  2. Remove any vacuum plates and pool cleaners.
  3. For best results increase the pH level to approximately 8.2.
  4. Make sure that the pump is off and change the valve selection on the Multi-Port Valve around to recirculate. If your pool has a cartridge filter remove the cartridges.
  5. Turn on the pump, for variable speed or eco pumps remember to change the speed to high.
  6. For granular floc dilute the product in a bucket of the pool water and apply the solution around the edges of the pool, for liquid floc simply add the chemical to the edge of the pool.
  7. Run the pump for 1-2 hours.
  8. Turn off the filtration until the sediment settles at the bottom of the pool, this can take 12 to 36 hours your mileage may vary.
  9. Set up the vacuum, attach the vac plate to the skimmer and change the valve around to waste then wait until the debris have dropped.
  10. Turn the pump on and vacuum the sediment to waste.
  11. After vacuuming all the debris turn the pump off and change the any valves you had back to normal filtration and add the filter cartridges back in if required.
  12. Balance the pool water chemistry, in extreme cases a second treatment may be required.

Note: Not all swimming pool equipment is the same, some have special valve sequences or automation required for “wasted” water if you are unsure of the wastewater procedure for your swimming pool and require a service call 1300 117 665 as this is a general guide and some steps may not apply to all swimming pools.